Assistant Director Budget & Administration

University of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 91,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Denver’s Department of Facilities Management and Planning seeks an Assistant Director of Business & Operations to oversee daily financial, workforce, contract, and compliance functions. This senior leadership role partners with FMP leadership to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant operations campus-wide.

You will supervise staff, coordinate payroll, reporting, and system workflows across CMMS, energy management, space management, and financial systems, while driving process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, management, public administration, or related field (or equivalent).
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in business administration, financial management, operations, human resources, or contract administration.
• Experience with budget development, forecasting, and financial monitoring.
• Experience coordinating business processes and administrative operations.
• Supervisory or demonstrated functional leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day financial and business administration of FMP; partners on annual budget development, forecasting, financial planning, and year-end close.
• Coordinates accounting, billing, recharge activity, purchasing, expense administration, and financial reporting; reviews designated transactions.
• Provides financial and operational analysis to directors and managers to support budget management, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Reviews contract requests and supporting documentation for completeness; tracks pending/active contracts, amendments, renewals, and change orders; maintains records.
• Coordinates workforce transactions, onboarding, separations, payroll documentation; liaison with HR on required documentation and system transactions.
• Monitors regulatory compliance requirements, supports audits, and strengthens internal controls and compliance practices.
• Develops reports, dashboards, and workflows across CMMS, energy management, vehicle management, space management, GIS, and financial systems; improves data accuracy and visibility.
• Supervises staff, coordinates administrative priorities, and maintains relationships with University partners, campus customers, and vendors.
• Maintains continuity during executive absence; escalates significant issues as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Workforce administration

Contract workflow

Regulatory compliance

Supervisory leadership

Communication skills

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, management, public administration, or related field

Master's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, public administration, or related discipline

Tools

Banner

WebTMA

EnergyCAP

Job description

The Department of Facilities Management and Planning (FMP) stewards the University of Denver’s physical resources and provides a healthy, safe, functional, and welcoming environment for the campus community. FMP includes Capital Projects and Planning, Facilities Management, Parking & Mobility Services, Auxiliaries & Real Estate, and Business & Operations.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Business & Operations manages the day-to-day business and administrative operations of FMP. Reporting to the Executive Director of Budget & Administration, the Assistant Director is a key business partner to FMP leadership across financial administration, workforce administration, contract coordination, regulatory compliance, internal controls, and reporting.

The position supports more than 124 union and non-union employees, supervises assigned business and administrative staff, and works closely with FMP directors, managers, supervisors, project managers, and University partners to keep business operations timely, accurate, and compliant with University policy.

Essential Functions

In addition to following the University of Denver’s policies and procedures, principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Business & Financial Operations

• Manages the day-to-day financial and business administration of FMP. Partners with the Executive Director of Budget & Administration on annual budget development, forecasting, financial planning, and year-end close, and monitors budget performance, labor costs, revenues, and expenditures, identifying significant trends and variances for leadership review.
• Coordinates accounting, billing, recharge activity, purchasing, expense administration, and financial reporting, and reviews and approves designated financial transactions within delegated University authority.
• Provides financial and operational analysis to directors and managers in support of budget management and operational decisions, and supports financial controls, audit requests, documentation standards, and the resolution of financial and administrative issues.

Contract Coordination

• Reviews FMP contract requests and supporting documentation for completeness before submission through the University’s procurement and contracting process, and tracks pending and active contracts, amendments, renewals, and change orders so that FMP leadership and project managers have current status.
• Follows up with FMP staff and University offices on outstanding contract actions, documentation, and approvals, and maintains contract records and supports documentation for workflow management, reporting, and audit readiness.

Human Resources & Workforce Administration

• Coordinates workforce transactions for union and non-union employees, including position changes, onboarding, separations, and payroll documentation, and serves as a departmental liaison with University Human Resources on required documentation and system transactions.
• Directs staff responsible for payroll, timekeeping, and workforce administration to ensure transactions are accurate and timely, and maintains reports and tracking tools covering vacancies, position status, payroll administration, and staffing.

Business Controls, Compliance & Risk

• Monitors FMP regulatory compliance requirements, including inspections, renewals, certifications, documentation, and corrective actions, maintaining compliance tracking that identifies upcoming deadlines and outstanding requirements and communicating gaps to FMP leadership.
• Gathers documentation and supports regulatory reviews, audits, and Controller inquiries, and supports internal controls and process improvements that strengthen financial, payroll, contract, and compliance practices.

Business Systems & Reporting

• Supports FMP business and operational systems through tracking, reporting, data review, and administrative workflows, partnering with Facilities IT Business Analysis, system owners, and operational leadership on reporting needs across CMMS/work-order management, utility and energy management, vehicle management, space management, GIS, and financial systems; functional ownership and technical administration remain with the appropriate system owners.
• Develops and maintains financial, workforce, contract, compliance, and operational reports, tracking tools, and dashboards for FMP leadership, and uses system data and available technology to improve data accuracy, workflow visibility, and administrative efficiency.

Leadership & Administrative Operations

• Supervises assigned business and administrative staff, setting priorities and performance expectations and supporting employee development and accountability.
• Serves as a business and administrative resource to FMP directors, managers, supervisors, project managers, and support staff, coordinating administrative priorities, helping resolve cross-functional workflow and process issues, and building effective working relationships with University partners, campus customers, and vendors.
• Maintains continuity of routine business operations during the Executive Director’s absence and escalates significant financial, personnel, contract, compliance, or operational matters.
• Performs other duties as assigned; responsibilities may be modified or reassigned as operational needs, business processes, systems, and priorities evolve

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of business administration, budgeting, financial reporting, workforce administration, contract workflow, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to interpret financial reports, contracts, policies, and operational data, identify business-process issues and risks, and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, workflows, and deadlines in a complex operating environment.
• Independent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality, with appropriate escalation of significant issues.
• Strong organizational, supervisory, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work effectively across organizational levels and functions.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365, and the ability to use enterprise financial, HR/payroll, contract-management, and facilities-management systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, management, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in business administration, financial management, operations, human resources, or contract administration.
• Experience with budget development, forecasting, and financial monitoring.
• Experience coordinating business processes and administrative operations.
• Supervisory or demonstrated functional leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, public administration, or a related discipline.
• Experience in facilities management, construction, higher education, or another complex operating environment.
• Experience supporting union and non-union employees.
• Experience with Banner, WebTMA, EnergyCAP, or comparable enterprise systems.

Working Environment

• Primarily office-based, with regular on-campus presence. Limited remote work may be available as operational needs permit and consistent with University and departmental expectations.
• Travel to campus offices and facilities for meetings, operational coordination, compliance activities, and other FMP business.
• Fast-paced environment with competing priorities, deadlines, frequent interruptions, and regular interaction with FMP leadership, employees, University partners, and vendors.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Occasionally required to move throughout office and campus locations and transport objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 11:59 p.m. (MST) November 22, 2026.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 12.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $91,000 - $102,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Documents Required for Application

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non-Discrimination-Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.